Facebook: A Platform for

21st Century Politics

Winning Hearts and Minds on the
World Wide Web
The Internet and specifically the 100’s
of millions who are connected online
through social networks, is defining
21st Century politics.

2 www.digitaldaya.com
 Facebook: A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World Wide Web
Facebook:
A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World
Wide Web
T
The world wide web (W3) is a tabula
rasa – a blank slate upon which
individuals, groups, cultures and nations
engage. And because the web is
available to anyone with on-line access, we’ve seen
that this essential communications medium can be
a very potent platform to engage and influence an
increasingly interconnected public audience.
A new widespread shift is underway towards
online discourse and an increasing demand for
direct communication between leaders and their
people; in truth creating a challenge for political
leaders and policy-makers that seek to shape
public opinion. These leaders are finding it more
difficult to promote their public image abroad
with a highly informed global audience and equally
at home to deal with the Internet as a growing
medium for political activism and dissent.
Some countries such as the United States of
America, the United Kingdom and Australia
have declared “open government” initiatives to
promote transparency and foster more direct
political representation with their citizenry
by applying social networking and Web 2.0
technologies to the practice of government. The
initiative, labeled as Government 2.0 programs,
are geared to let people access government
information online and collaborate more openly
in the making of public policy.
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In many places however, web use is banned or
controlled at the national level. Certain sites are
“off-limits.” This type of government censorship
led to the recent pullout of Google – the world’s
most-used search engine – from China after China’s
political leaders began censoring Google search
engine results pages (SERPs). Whether this move
was motivated by Google’s desire to force China
to open access to the web, or a step backward for
the Chinese people, remains to be seen. One thing
of which we can be sure: governments recognize
the power of the web as a tool for communication,
information sharing, connectivity with the local
populace and, sadly, the broadcast of propaganda
and containment of political dissent – restricting
Web access to government-sponsored messages
that political leaders want constituents to access.
The point? This new medium, the Internet and
specifically the 100’s of millions who are connected
online through social networks, is defining 21st
Century politics.
While this transformation will be felt worldwide, it’s
impact will likely potentiate the political landscape
in the Middle East and broader Muslim World.
With approximately one-quarter of the world’s
population (23%) adhering to the principles of
Islam, and according to our most recent research
a sizeable 225 million Muslims already online, this
huge demographic has yet to fully embrace and
leverage the World Wide Web.
 Facebook: A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World Wide Web

Muslim Population Online by Region

REGION MUSLIM ONLINE MUSLIM % OF TOTAL

POPULATION POPULATION ONLINE MUSLIM

Middle East 459,878,950 104,127,683 46%

East Asia 228,599,000 38,631,352 17%
South Asia/Indian Subcontinent 485,970,000 31,448,814 14%
Central Asia 128,639,000 19,912,079 9%
Sub-Saharan Africa 240,333,000 16,964,966 8%
Americas & Europe 24,880,400 14,963,535 7%
1,568,300,350 226,048,428 100%

Source: World Internet Usage and
Population Statistics December 31, 2009;
Global Muslim Population, A Report on the
Size and Distribution of the World’s Muslim
Population October 2009 by Pew Research
Center; U.S. State Department Religious
Freedom Act; CIA World Factbook; and
Digital Daya Intelligence Databases
Note: Middle East region comprises the
Arab World (the Gulf, Levant, and North
Africa regions), Israel, Iran, and Turkey.
East Asia includes the Muslim populations
in ASEAN and Far East regions.
Central Asia includes Muslim populations
of CIS (except the Baltic), Russia,
Western China, and Afghanistan.

Moreover, the Internet penetration among the The Changing Face of

global Muslim community has been swelling at
a compound annual growth rate of 30% since
2006; projecting forward we will see a total online
population of 1 Billion people by 2015.
So, we come to the big question, of great concern
at home and across the West, what impact will the
use of the World Wide Web by Muslim leaders
have on one-quarter of the world’s population?
Middle East Leadership
For more than five decades,Middle Eastern countries
have been governed by highly-centralized power
structures – hereditary monarchies, strongman
military governments, highly organized theocracies
and other agents that relied on controlling the flow
of information to the people.

This big question requires an examination of the
foundations upon which Muslim cultures are built
and the impact of the creation of global interaction
at the personal level. Anyone can log on and find
news of interest to both Muslims and non-Muslims,
and with the phenomenal growth of the web in
just 20 years, we have empirical evidence that web
reach is expanding at the speed of digital.
Accordingly, who are the leaders within the Islamic
community who maintain an active web presence.
What are they doing with it? And what are the
implications of foreign policy for the U.S. and the
rest of the Western world?
We see this “old-school” approach today in Iran,
a country that has seen regular protests from
the Green Movement – protestors made up of
the middle class, the educated, the moderate
progressives within Iran’s hard-line, theocracy-
based government. When these brave, progressive
protestors take to the streets in reaction to an
alleged “rigged” election, broadcast media are
prevented from showing these protests.
Reports of Iran’s “people voting with their feet”
still filtered out. Grainy images from cell phones
spread organically across the globe despite Iranian
government efforts to keep internal these reports
of rebellion. And the West was quick to show its
support of the protestors on social media sites.

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Over the past few years, we’ve seen a remarkable
growth in the use of the world wide web by
national leaders.This is the result, at least in part, of
the changing face of Middle Eastern leaders. As the
old guard “times out,” new leaders, younger more
visionary leaders, are taking their places. These
leaders recognize the value of employing web
assets to engage their peoples and other cultures
around the globe. In effect, the tabula rasa that is
the W3 is being filled in with a new breed of leader
in Muslim nations across the globe.
Many current Middle Eastern leaders, and the
rising stars within state governments, are Western
educated. His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the
Sultan of Oman, received his higher education in
the UK. So did King Abdullah II of Jordan, President
Al Assad of Syria, Prime Minister Saad Hariri of
Lebanon, and Saif al-Islam al-Qadhafi, son of Libyan
leader Moammar Al Qadhafi – all received their
educations from U.S. or Great Britain Universities.
All are fluent in English, all have Western friends
and colleagues, all have been exposed to Western
viewpoints to one degree or another and two
of these leaders actually received their military
education at the renowned Royal Military Academy
at Sandhurst in the United Kingdom.These leaders
have integrated the best of Western thought into
Middle Eastern cultures in a slow, deliberate way.
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The Internet penetration among
the global Muslim community has
been swelling at a compound annual
growth rate of 30% since 2006
Nation Building on
The World Wide Web:
How National Leaders Use
Web-Based Assets
THE FIRST ONLINE CAMPAIGN FOR
POLITICAL CONTROL WITHIN THE
MIDDLE EAST - GAMAL MUBARAK VS.
MOHAMED ELBARADEI OF EGYPT
Egypt is the most populace nation in the
Middle East with 78 million citizens. Egypt’s President
Hosni Mubarak has been in the top government
post for the past thirty years, rising to power in
the wake of the assassination of his predecessor,
President Anwar Sadat; to date he has not named
a Vice President. Mubarak’s advancing age (82) has
made the question of succession the top political
issue and hence the recurring speculation of who
will assume this pivotal post.
The younger of the two sons of Egyptian’s current
President Hosni Mubarak and heir apparent to
his father’s power structure, Gamal Mubarak,
is reputedly being groomed to take the place of
his father although both father and son have not
publically advocated this move. Nevertheless,
authorities both inside Egypt and within the Middle
East region believe that, indeed, Gamal Mubarak will
attempt to assume his father’s position.
 Facebook: A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World Wide Web
Gamal Mubarak is well-versed in Western ways
having attended St. George’s College in Cairo,
before entering American University in Cairo
where he earned his business degrees. After
graduation, Gamal Mubarak was employed by
Bank of America’s Egyptian operation before
being transferred to the London branch. The
young banker quickly rose to prominence for his
performance in investment banking.
Subsequently, this youngest son of Hosni Mubarak
managed a private equity fund to undertake high-
level financial consultation. Gamal is also the
Chairperson of the Future Generation Foundation
(FGF), a non-government agency with a mission
of training young people for employment. He’s
also an honorary member of the business-service
organization, Rotary International.
His professional biography clearly paints a picture
of a man whose principles are firmly based in the
Western concept of free markets and financial
investment. He is a progressive thinker with strong
ties to the West, indicated by his extensive use of
web-based interconnectivity.
Gamal Mubarak is typical of the Middle East leader
of tomorrow – a leader who is open to engagement
with the West and who moves with ease among
powerful Western interests. His activities on the
W3 further demonstrate the man’s desire to reach
out and communicate with Egyptians and non-
Egyptians on a broad array of topics.
To engage this future leader, one can visit his Gamal
Mubarak’s Facebook page or his Sharek Facebook
page. As of this writing, Gamal has a growing
following on social media sites with 18,000 fans on
multiple Facebook accounts alone.
The website, www.menassat.com, had this to say
about the younger Mubarak:
“In what looks like a clear bid to boost his
presidential campaigning efforts and credibility
among Egypt’s youth, Gamal Mubarak or
“Jimmy” as he goes by locally, has launched
his own Facebook site and his very own
online discussion forum for young Egyptians,
“Sharek,” which means” participate” in Arabic, in
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collaboration with the General Secretary of the
Policy Committee of the National Democratic
Party (NDP).
The open forum, which goes by the slogan “open
dialogue for the Egyptian youth with Gamal
Mubarak,” invites young Egyptians to send in
their questions and participate in discussions
with the man who might be leading their country
in the near future. Gamal discusses topics such
as the challenges and opportunities faced by
today’s youth with show participants. Sharek
is being heavily advertised on various social
media outlets and viewers can currently follow
the show via Facebook and RSS. Soon, fans will
also be able to view episodes on Sharek’s own
YouTube channel and access photos from the
program via the photo-sharing site Flickr.”
Gamal’s forum is open and transparent, covering
topics of concern to Egyptians from all segments
of society. The forum has addressed such issues
as Egypt’s rate of inflation (high), difficult and sub-
standard living conditions, corruption, National
Democratic party corruption and Gamal Mubarak’s
presumed ascension to power in the future.
Mubarak’s outreach to, what is presumed to be his
future constituents, is a model of the integration
of social media and politics in a meaningful, even
personal, manner. However, Mubarak’s opposition
has also taken to the world wide web.
Mohamed ElBaradei heads the opposition in
Egypt opposed to Gamal Mubarak with a solid
measure of growing popularity. The principle of
presidency by succession has propelled ElBaradei
to the forefront of Egyptian politics.
Mohamed brings international experience to the
table, serving as former UN Nuclear Chief, which
brought him into close contact with the Western
scientific and political communities. Indeed,
Elbaradei enjoys international support, in part
because of his engagement with the West during
his years at the UN and through his efforts to put
forth his message through social media including
maintaining a Facebook page, a Twitter account and
uploads of speeches and interviews to YouTube,
putting a face to the politics.
 Facebook: A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World Wide Web
Remarkably, Mohamed ElBaradei has built a
strong Facebook following rapidly swelling to
225,000 followers as of today.
The race between Mubarak and ElBaradei has been
heated at times, but the rhetoric isn’t inflammatory.
Neither candidate is calling for revolution in the
streets, which is one of the things that makes
this particular political race so interesting and
intriguing.This could be considered the first online
campaign for political control within the region of
the Middle East.
With Gamal Mubarak and ElBaradei
vying for political influence within
Egypt demonstrates the power of
the world wide web to alter regimes
through engagement with constituents.
U.S. President Obama employed the W3 as an
excellent means of putting forth his message
to the people. Others would point to the half a
billion U.S. dollars of campaign funds Mr. Obama
raised through his web site. Both are positive,
producing connectivity with the people and
lessening the control of special interests. Instead,
the people are financing the campaign – a truer,
purer form of democracy.
This will be an interesting race to follow in the
months and years ahead. With Gamal Mubarak
and ElBaradei vying for political influence within
Egypt demonstrates the power of the world
wide web to alter regimes through engagement
with constituents.
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BUILDING POLITICAL COALITIONS
- PRIME MINISTER SAAD HARIRI OF
LEBANON
The second son of Rafiq Hariri, Saad, took
over the leadership of Lebanon upon his father’s
death and after a long, internal struggle, Saad
Hariri became the country’s prime Minister in
November, 2009.
Saad also took the lead of the “Future Movement,”
which was founded by his father. He also led the
“March 14 Alliance” responsible for the “March
Revolution.” This revolution forced Syrian troops to
leave Lebanese territory that it had occupied since
the country’s civil war that took place in the mid-
1970s.The Forces of the 14th of March maintains a
Facebook account with over 7,000 fans.
The current Prime Minister of Lebanon was
educated at the McDonough School of Business,part
of Georgetown University located in Washington,
D.C. After graduation, Saad managed a significant
part of the family’s financial empire, placing him in
the middle of an expanding global economy based
on free market principles – principles Saad Hariri
learned during his years at Georgetown University.
The young leader faced stiff opposition within
Lebanon, taking several months to form a coalition
cabinet. His willingness to reach out and embrace
differing views enabled Hariri to build a solid
coalition within the government, creating stability
among the country’s political, business and financial
communities.
Further, Hariri has reached out to Syria, long-
time occupiers of parts of Lebanon, traveling to
Damascus to meet with Syrian President Basher
Assad. Reconciliation soon followed. Finally,
because of strong business ties, the country’s leader
maintains strong ties with the Saudis and has the
solid backing of the United States and many other
Western democracies.
Once again, Saad Hariri is an example of how
government connectivity with constituents creates
stability and, even more, makes citizens a part of
daily governance. Prime Minister Hariri’s popularity
with the people is, in part due, to his on-going
dialogue with the Lebanese people through his web
site at www.saadhariri.com.
 Facebook: A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World Wide Web
Hariri’s political party also maintains an active
website at Future Movement.
It should be noted that these leaders recognize
that political legitimacy is the foundation of
a stable government and as a consequence a
growing gross national product (GNP) – the total
output of a nation in the delivery of goods and
services.
This recognition of the importance of a stable
government among the coming generation of Middle
East leaders bodes well for the national economies
of the region. Currently highly dependent on oil
and gas revenues, we can anticipate an economic
diversification in oil-dependent nations as the
countries move to establish a knowledge economy,
similar to the West, instituted on a world-class
university system and enterprise grade, 21st
century businesses working and thriving in every
sector of the economy, from computer coding to
innovative Islamic financial services companies. A
more progressive Middle East holds great promise.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Prime Minister and Vice-president of
the United Arab Emirates, is given much
credit for turning Dubai into the financial
and business capital of the Middle East
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ENGAGING THE POPULATION - HH
SHEIKH MOHAMMED, RULER OF DUBAI
Many other progressive leaders, either in
place or soon to assume leadership roles, are active
on the web. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Prime Minister and Vice-president of the United
Arab Emirates, is given much credit for turning
Dubai into the financial and business capital of the
Middle East – the place where Western and Eastern
businesspeople, entrepreneurs and established
companies in broad-based industries – meet in the
spirit of common goals.
This has made Dubai one of the most important
centers of commerce in the Middle East, creating
wealth and prosperity across the complete
population spectrum. Dubai is a thriving, destination
city in which businesses from around the world
establish headquarters in the region, employing and
expanding the middle class.
The popular ruler of Dubai actively employs
special media to engage the people of the United
Arab Emirates. No longer a distant, remote figure,
the Ruler of Dubai maintains his own page on
Facebook, one of the most popular social media
experiments currently underway on the world
wide web. You can follow the Sheik’s posts on
your computer. His Facebook pages is: http://www.
facebook.com/HHSheikhMohammed. He currently
has over 150,000 followers on Facebook and the
leader’s profile page provides open access to the
Sheik’s biographical data presented in terms that
people understand and, therefore, appreciate.
Sheik Mohammed serves as another excellent
example of how the web is an important tool of
communication, interaction and personalization
of leaders. Those who follow the Premier’s posts
recognize the humanity behind the position,
the man behind the title, creating an accessible,
engaged, contemporary and pro-active approach to
government and connectivity with the public.
In all of these cases, the web is being put to
mutually beneficial use. The public develops a
personal relationship with leadership. Government
leaders create an informed, engaged population –
stakeholders in the country’s growth and success.
 Qaboos bin Said has turned
Oman from a isolated, centralized
nation into a modern, thriving
economy using the country’s
small oil revenues to finance these
improvements to benefit the people.

PLACING TECHNOLOGY ON THE isolated, centralized nation into a modern,

NATIONAL AGENDA - HIS MAJESTY, thriving economy using the country’s small oil
SULTAN QABOOS BIN SAID OF OMAN revenues to finance these improvements to
Oman’s 70-year-old Sultan Qaboos bin benefit the people.
Said has lifted Oman to new levels of internal
openness, engagement with “outside” societies Further, Sultan Qaboos bin Said is on Facebook
and has turned Oman into a model of the modern and a strong advocate of the use of information
Islamic state.The country boasts a highway system, technology, seeing the W3 as the important tool
artistic monuments and architecture,Western-style that it is. Speaking at the annual session of the
shopping malls, quality, 5-star accommodations and Council of Oman, the country’s leader made
modern office buildings that symbolize a growing, clear his views on the world wide web and its
thriving, expansive economy. use in nation building and middle class evolution
and growth:
In addition to these surface changes, internal
changes in government tell an even more revealing “Information technology and communications
story.While the Sultan maintains absolute authority have now become the main elements that move
within Oman’s government structure, Qaboos bin forward the development process in this third
Said has instituted parliamentary elections in which millennium,” His Majesty said.
woman vote and seek office. Power sharing and
gender equality. “Therefore, we have accorded our attention
to finding a national strategy to develop the
Other deeper changes within Omani society skills and abilities of citizens in this domain with
include: engagement with Western and non- the aim of further developing e-government
Muslim nations at the highest levels, expanded services. We are closely following the important
access to uncensored print media, the steps that we have made in this regard. We call
development of a secondary level school system upon all government institutions to speedily
(an investment in the country’s future, no doubt), enhance their performance, and to facilitate
and an expanded system of health care for Omani their services, by applying digital technology in
citizens. In short, this Western-educated monarch order to usher the Sultanate into the constantly
has turned Oman from a wind-swept, desolate, evolving spheres for applying knowledge.”

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 On Facebook, we find numerous
political activist and advocacy groups
that employ web technology to call for
change – change to a more open, more
inclusive and even democratic society.

Political Activism In the approximately 35,000 active blogs, and produced a

Broader Muslim World
Western media and Western governments have of-
ten viewed the web as “hotbeds” of extremism –
sites designed to recruit radicals as well as to spread
anti-Western sentiment. This conception has lead
to sanctions against the export of web-based assets
from the U.S. and other Western nations.
But, is this the true picture? Is the World Wide Web
merely a tool being manipulated, monitored, sanc-
tioned, censored and otherwise misused by radical
political groups putting forth an anti-social agenda
and by national leaders disseminating dis-informa-
tion for the benefit of a country’s power structure?
A central finding of a report called “The Berk-
man Center for Internet and Society, Mapping the
Arabic Blogosphere: Politics, Culture and Dissent,”
published in June, 2009, provides clear evidence that
radical Islamic groups have not exploited the W3
successfully. The study identified a base network of
baseline assessment concluding that “...Arabic lan-
guage blogs are not to any significant degree used to
support extremism, preach hate, or organize terror-
ist activities. In fact, support for terrorism or violent
confrontation with the West appears to be rare.”
If we go beyond the blogosphere and examine
the most popular social media venues, and in par-
ticular the largest platform - Facebook, we find
numerous political activist and advocacy groups
that employ web technology to call for change –
change to a more open, more inclusive and even
democratic society.
Looking at the online Muslim populations at a na-
tional level, we see a diverse geographic make up with
only two Arab countries in the top ten. Iran,Turkey,
and Indonesia have the largest online populations to-
day.While Facebook is censored in Iran, it is no coin-
cidence that Indonesia and Turkey also rank #3 and
#4 globally among top countries by number of active
Facebook users right behind the U.S. and U.K.

Top 10 Nations By Muslim Population Online

REGION MUSLIM ONLINE MUSLIM

POPULATION POPULATION

1 Iran 73,777,000 35,781,845

2 Turkey 73,619,000 25,398,555 Source:
World Internet Usage
3 Indonesia 202,867,000 25,358,375 and Population Statistics
4 Pakistan 174,082,000 18,452,692 December 31, 2009; Global
Muslim Population, A Report
5 Egypt 78,513,000 16,566,243 on the Size and Distribution
6 Nigeria 78,056,000 12,567,016 of the World’s Muslim
Population October 2009
7 India 160,945,000 11,266,150 by Pew Research Center; U.S.
8 Malaysia 16,581,000 10,893,717 State Department Religious
Freedom Act; CIA World
9 Saudi Arabia 24,949,000 6,761,179 Factbook; and Digital Daya
10 China 21,667,000 6,218,429 Intelligence Databases

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 Facebook: A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World Wide Web

Here are a few potent examples across the Mus- the Muslim Brotherhood – Egypt is: “…to in-
lim world of political advocacy leaders, groups, stall “Islamic” governments in the Muslim world
and campaigns that employ web-based assets: through the establishment of Sharia as the legal
system of these new governments and are also
NATIONAL UNITY PROGRAMS interested in human rights. With branches in sev-
An innovative government program ini- eral Arab and Muslim countries, the Brotherhood
tiated by the Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk portrays itself as a more authentic alternative to
Najib Razak, the 1Malaysia Program, has a secular authoritarian rulers and religious extrem-
goal to preserve and enhance racial unity in the ists of the al-Qaida variety. The main mission of
predominantly Muslim nation of Malaysia among ikwanweb is to present the Muslim Brotherhood
the ethnic Malay, Chinese, and Indian groups that vision right from the source and rebut miscon-
make up it’s population. The 1Malaysia website is ceptions about the movement in Western na-
intended “...to initiate an open and vital dialogue tions. The two Ikhwan profiles on Facebook have
exploring our Malaysian identity, purpose, and di- approximately 1,700 fans in total.
rection.” The 1Malaysia Facebook profile has at-
tracted over 50,000 fans.
PLIGHT OF ETHNIC MINORITIES
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on two Advocacy groups use the W3 to put forth
luxury hotels in Jakarta, the global online com- an agenda of self-determination such as the Muslim
munity and especially Indonesians united to show Uyghurs in Central Asia, in an area known as East
their support to fight against terrorism through Turkestan or Xinjiang, an autonomous region in the
the #IndonesiaUnite Movement. By using People’s Republic of China.. The group’s public face,
Twitter, people expressed themselves by twitter- Rebiya Kadeer, remains the most effective civil
ing the word #indonesiaunite with their personal rights leader among the Uyghurs seeking more free-
messages to pass on their support that everyone dom from the Chinese government. After deadly
is united against terrorism. The #indonesiaunite ethnic riots in this region, Chinese authorities have
hash tag became the TOP TRENDING TOPIC in shut off the Internet there, local residents are still
Twitter at the time and the movement continues barred from sending text messages and getting on-
on Facebook through IndonesiaUnite! page with line. The organization’s web site is located at http://
a whopping 480,000 fans! www.uhrp.org/ and Rabiya Kadeer maintains a Face-
book account with about 1,000 fans.

THEOCRATIC ADVOCACY The Indian and Pakistani governments both

Theocracy is a form of government in which
a state is governed by officials who are regarded as
divinely guided or where prevailing state laws are
based on religious laws. Iran is considered a Muslim
theocracy and the Vatican a Christian theocracy as
both are ruled by religious laws and figures, the
Grand Ayatollah and the Pope, respectfully. Some
critics point to Israel as a Jewish theocracy as some
of its state laws are based on Jewish law albeit that
their leaders are chosen through a democratic
process. Egypt’s largest theocratic advocacy group,
The Muslim Brotherhood, in on Facebook.Though
officially banned by the Egyptian government, the
Muslim Brotherhood still garners substantial
popular support.
According to the Brotherhood’s web site, located
at http://www.ikhwanweb.com/, the mission of
lay claim to Kashmir and, on at least two occa-
sions, the world stood on the brink of nuclear
war between those enemy states. As the Indian
government tightens control of web usage, the
Kashmiri separatists have taken their struggle
to the web, an effective tool for creating broad-
based support for the organization’s goal of a
free state of Kashmir, controlled not by India or
Pakistan, but rather a new state that may serve
to defuse the struggle for control of this region
between two nuclear powers. The All Parties
Hurriyat Conference (APHC) now on Facebook
is positioned as a political front “...formed as an
alliance of 26 political, social and religious orga-
nizations in Kashmir to achieve the right of self-
determination according to United Nations Se-
curity Council Resolution 47. “Hurriyat” in Urdu
means freedom.

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 Facebook: A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World Wide Web
MUSLIM WOMEN AS POLITICAL ADVO-
CATES
Married to King Abdullah II of Jordan,
Queen Rania is a strong online advocate sup-
porting many programs to improve the liveli-
hoods of Jordan’s citizens and the nation’s pros-
pects. Queen Rania’s Facebook account enjoys
over 170,000 fans and is a platform for her 1Goal
campaign to make education a reality for the mil-
lions of boys and girls who remain out of school
across the world.
Dubbed by the local press as “the Iranian Mi-
chelle Obama”, Zahra Rahnavard, is married
to Mir Hossein Mousavi, who was President Ah-
madinejad’s strongest challenger in Iran’s recent
presidential election. The 64-year-old diminutive
grandmother, a political scientist and sculptress
who heads a university, has been making a big
impact on Iranian politics. She is a key asset in
her husband’s campaign for reform and a strong
women’s rights activists in Iran. Zahra’s Facebook
account is home to about 43,000 ardent fans.
The consort of the Emir of Qatar, HH Sheikha
Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, is the chairperson
of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science
and Community Development. She plays a leading
role in education and social reforms in Qatar, and
is often a spokesperson showcasing Qatar’s am-
bitious development programs. She is also a ce-
lebrity advocate as UNESCO’s Special Envoy for
Basic and Higher Education. HH Sheikha Mozah’s
Facebook account has 26,000 fans.
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING
A growing political movement on Face-
book with over 45,000 fans,We Want Imran Khan
To Be The Next Prime Minster Of Pakistan!, is
organized to have Pakistan’s former cricket hero
Imran Khan elected into office. Imran Khan
maintains his own Facebook account with more
than 75,000 fans and strives to bridge the gap be-
tween Pakistan and the West - “They (Western-
ers) do not understand Islam, and I think that is
one area where perhaps I hope one day I will play
a role in actually making people understand what
we perceive Islam to be.”
12 www.digitaldaya.com
The Fan page, Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi, is devoted to
about 4,500 followers of the son of Libyan leader
Moammar Al Qadhafi who may one day play a part
in the Libyan government. About five years ago,
the Libyan government surprised the world when
it was announced it would dismantle its nuclear,
chemical and ballistic missile programs. Since that
time, according to U.S. Congressional records,
American, British, and international officials have
inspected and removed or destroyed key compo-
nents of those programs. The events leading up to
this dramatic change had taken place behind the
scenes. The man who initiated the contacts with
the U.S. was not the Libyan leader himself but his
son, Saif al-Islam al-Qadhafi. U.S. Congressio-
nal records showed that Saiful Islam met in Lon-
don with American House Representatives. Saiful
Islam at the time was attending school in London,
working on his Ph.D. in Economics. This was but
another example of how western-educated lead-
ers were reaching out to the U.S.
A secular Shiite, Ayad Allawi, has returned to
the center of Iraqi politics after receiving millions
of votes from Sunni Arabs, a minority that has felt
marginalized since Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein
was toppled in 2003. Former prime minister Ayad
Allawi’s political bloc recently won the most seats
in Iraq’s parliamentary election. Allawi and Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki are now vying to get a
majority of parliamentarians on their side in order
to be appointed prime minister for the next four
years. Ayad Allawi is on Facebook with over 6,000
fans running on a secular campaign of “Our Future
Together” and “Iraq for every Iraqi”.
The Green Movement is a series of actions
after the 2009 Iranian presidential election, in
which protesters have demanded the removal
of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from office. Green
was first the symbol of Mir Hossein Mousavi’s
campaign but after the election, it became the
symbol of unity and hope for those asking for
annulment of what they regarded as a fraudulent
election. Supporters used Twitter and Facebook
to spread the word. Moussavi campaign managers
organized supporters, planned gatherings and
garnered support of 126,000 fans through
Mossavi’s Facebook pages dedicated to the
Reformist candidate.
 Facebook: A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World Wide Web
Turkey is entering a new battle between the re-
ligiously conservative government (the ruling
Justice and Development Party or AKP) and the
strictly secular opposition party (the Republi-
can People’s Party, or CHP). As the government
plans for a constitutional overhaul, the reform is
aimed according to Prime Minister Recep Tayy-
ip Erdogan “...at strengthening democracy and
bringing Turkey closer to standards of the Euro-
pean Union (which the country wants to join)”.
The fight is about who gets to decide important
changes in the country from civilian oversight of
the military, strengthening of woman’s right, and
level of separation of religion and state. Kemal
Kılıçdaroglu, the deputy president of the CHP
opposition party, plays a key role in the debate
and is a popular figure in Turkey evidenced by a
gathering of 190,000 fans on Kemal’s Facebook
page.
YOUTH MOVEMENTS
An independent media outlet that is youth-
orientated and Jordanian-based, 7iber.com, is a
place for citizen-generated content to flour-
ish, fostering a critical and informed civil society
through an independent and participatory new
media. The organization offers a model for free
The W3 is more effective as a
tool that promotes moderation,
reform and increased
connectivity among Muslims
across the globe.
13 www.digitaldaya.com
speech in Jordan and successfully launched a viral
Gaza conflict campaign. Their website and 7iber’s
Facebook page with 1,400 fans was the place
where a donation drive for Gaza was announced,
as well as new volunteer opportunities and ac-
complishments; pictures and video from the cam-
paign disseminating these on other platforms.
The above findings clearly indicate that the world
wide web is not a tool that fosters extremism. Instead,
the broad and diverse activity today makes a compel-
ling case that the W3 is more effective as a tool that
promotes moderation, reform and increased connec-
tivity among Muslims across the globe.
Greater interaction among Muslim cultures and
nation states will augment and increase the role
of moderate and progressive Islam, creating bonds
among believers in faith and cultural values. Indeed,
Muslim radicals will continue to utilize the web as
a tool of recruitment but the web is a reflection of
the people who utilize it. Within the global Mus-
lim population, the vast majority of adherents hold
moderate views which will only be re-enforced
through engagement of like-minded people on a
global scale.The web reaffirms moderation among
Muslim populations and poses limited danger as a
tool for recruitment for extremist groups.
 Facebook: A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World Wide Web
Digital Policy for the World
Wide Web
If the W3 is, indeed, a blank slate, it will assuredly
be written upon by political groups such as those
highlighted attempting to affect change.
These Walls on Facebook are, in essence, re-
cruitment centers, frequented by citizenry who
believe that engagement and debate is inevitable
and beneficial.
• Web sites of radical organiza-
tions would be elevated in impor-
tance.
• The government would show
fear that extremists and/or advocates
might create turmoil within the coun-
try.
• The messages put forth on
some of these web sites would gain
credence, though the information
contained on these sites serves the
sole purpose of any propaganda – to
convert believers to a cause, be it re-
ligious, political or a combination of
the two.
• Moderate Muslims would be
denied access to the views put forth
on web sites and, would therefore, be
less aware of the dangers extremists
present, and the opportunities pro-
gressive advocates afford.
For numerous reasons, it is wise to enable access
to a variety of views and philosophies, religious
tenets and political intentions. In this way, people
recognize the options before them.
14 www.digitaldaya.com
Wise, enlightened government leaders recognize
the importance of keeping Facebook and other
political sites open to the population, thus shining
the light of rational thought on differing agendas.
Were governments to shut down or ban web-
sites, several negative outcomes would occur:
• Moderate Muslims would be
less likely to turn to their legitimate
national and local government
leaders to dis-band groups that spread
hateful rhetoric in the name of Islam.
Moderate Muslims realize that part
of their religion has been “hijacked”
by political extremists and exploited
in regional conflicts.
• An open exchange of views is
not a threat to an open government
with a stable economic base. Citi-
zens will turn to legitimate govern-
ment outlets to address extremism
in any form.
• The majority tends to be
moderate and forward-thinking in
its views, a positive for the mainte-
nance of a stable government and
an expanding economic base.
Muslim radicalism and advocacy on the web
serves many positive purposes for progressive
governments in this region of the world.
 The Western world must provide
assistance in spreading web use as a
tool to support political leaders and
political advocacy groups exercising
open engagement.

The Role of the U.S. In radicalism of religious and quasi-military groups

that also populate the web with their anti-West-
Creating Open Web Access ern sentiment.
It is clearly in the best interests of Western dem-
To this end, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s
ocratic states to encourage uncensored, unfet-
Office of Foreign Assets Control, the OFAC,
tered access to the world wide web among Mus-
amended licenses to facilitate web access in
lim nations. And indeed, America recognizes that
countries deemed as hostile states to America.
it is in their country’s best interests to encourage
and facilitate uncensored access to the web as a
The document addresses the Iranian Transaction
tool of engagement – a means of reaching out to
Regulations, the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations
Muslims in a non-military fashion for the benefit
and the long-established Cuban Assets Control
of all parties and equally for Muslim citizenry to
Regulations to strengthen access to web-based
engage their own governments.
assets within these countries, and to encourage
freedom of speech and dissemination of informa-
The Western world must provide assistance in
tion to the widest audience world wide.
spreading web use as a tool to support political
leaders and political advocacy groups exercising
A spokesperson for the Treasury Department,
open engagement. Often these groups put forth
Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin, on the easing of
moderate platforms. They are supported by the
licensing restrictions in these three countries
moderate middle class within Muslim countries –
stated:
the very people the West must engage. However,
the U.S. and Western nations have only recently
“Consistent with the Administration’s deep com-
recognized the value of providing the technology
mitment to the universal rights of all the world’s
– blogging software, forum software, email clients,
citizens, the issuance of these general licenses will
VoIP services and other means of social interac-
make it easier for individuals in Iran, Sudan and
tion to build support for moderate Muslim opin-
Cuba to use the Internet to communicate with
ion and, more importantly, engagement.
each other and with the outside world. Today’s
actions will enable Iranian, Sudanese and Cuban
The West would be well advised to take a closer
citizens to exercise their most basic rights.”
look at the so-called “radical” agendas put forth
by some Muslim groups. The leaders of the West
The essence of this easing of restrictions is in-
will quickly discover that, by lifting the sanctions
tended to authorize U.S. companies to export
on the export of web technology, these Western
to Iran, the Sudan and Cuba both services and
states help themselves by aiding in the creation of
software to encourage the growth of personal
a moderate Islamic community opposed to the

15 www.digitaldaya.com
 Facebook: A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World Wide Web
communications using web resources including
browser software, blogging applications, email cli-
ents, instant messaging technology and chat func-
tions that are routinely a part of Western busi-
ness and personal activities.
Deputy Secretary Wolin explained further,“As re-
cent events in Iran have shown, personal Internet-
based communications like email, instant messag-
ing and social networking are powerful tools.This
software will foster and support the free flow of
information – a basic human right– for all Iranians.
At the same time, as we take these steps, the
[Obama] Administration will continue aggres-
sively to enforce existing sanctions and to work
with our international partners to increase the
pressure on the Government of Iran to meet its
international obligations.”
This news, while encouraging, still places the
implementation of web access squarely on the
shoulders of national leaders. Indeed, the U.S. has
freed up both the technology and methodology
to increase web access among all peoples. But to
go further in attempting to force national leaders
to grant access to web communications would be
seen as attempting to influence internal activities
within sovereign nations.
While the easing of sanctions is certainly a posi-
tive step, the hard truth is that it does not go far
enough. The West benefits through the exporta-
tion of web-based assets – the tools needed to
engage moderate Muslims seeking a more en-
lightened approach to governance. And while the
lifting of sanctions against Iran, the Sudan and Cu-
ban indicates a change in U.S. policy, more must
be done.
The U.S., the de facto leader in the West (despite
its recent financial declines) must issue clear, un-
ambiguous statements presenting qualified argu-
ments against censorship of web access among,
not just Muslims, but of all world communities.
Indeed, search engine powerhouse, Google, has
withdrawn from engagement with China because
of perceived censorship on the part of the Chi-
nese government. The results of this pull-out will
be known in the future, but at this stage we have
no firm data on the impact of Google’s retreat.
16 www.digitaldaya.com
However, Google is a public company, not a gov-
ernment agency and, therefore acts with different
motives and objectives than the national govern-
ments of Western nations. Google is a for-profit
company. It has shareholders to whom it must
answer. It must remain profitable while establish-
ing policies that benefit the company and its own-
ership – the millions of individuals, mutual funds,
pension plans and other financial entities that in-
vest in Google stock. The objectives of Google
may be seen as noble, advocating unfettered ac-
cess to the web, but let’s keep in mind that unfet-
tered web access is the key to Google’s success.
This is not necessarily the case with governments.
The U.S. government is not a for-profit entity. Its
objectives are different, and while pundits compare
Google’s pull-out from the Chinese search market
as evidence that the West wants open access to the
W3, it’s a false analogy to compare the actions of
a publicly-held enterprise in the private sector and
the actions of state governments – the U.S federal
government, the governments that form the EU and
other governments allied with Western beliefs.
The issue goes beyond censorship as political
opposition websites are becoming a primary tar-
get of hackers. This new phenomenon of defac-
ing dissident and opposition websites seems to
be spreading across the world in attempts to
suppress political activism. Even though it is not
always clear who is behind these cyber attacks,
threatened governments are being accused of
organizing campaigns as new means of cracking
down on oppositional activities online.
If we examine the activities on the highlighted
websites we discover people using the Web to
express religious beliefs radical or otherwise,
to join forums that engender debate on oppos-
ing views, to act as citizen journalists publicizing
their points of view, and to call for reform or ex-
press dissent towards established governments
and their policies. Any attempts to curtail this
platform whether by the withholding of enabling
technology, acts of censorship, or organized cy-
ber attacks is much akin to “...prohibiting the free
exercise of religion; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Gov-
ernment for a redress of grievances.”
 Facebook: A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World Wide Web
What is the U.S. to do when the World Wide
Web is likened to a platform used to exercise
the First Amendment to the United States Con-
stitution, part of the Bill of Rights guaranteeing
civil liberties? The U.S. government has yet to take
a clear, firm stand on the issue of open access of
the Web as a matter of foreign policy.
People using the Web to express religious
beliefs radical or otherwise, to join forums
that engender debate on opposing views,
to act as citizen journalists publicizing their
points of view
Critics of America’s covert operations in Af-
ghanistan were quick to point out that despite
the stunning military victories against the Sovi-
et Union, not enough was done to manage the
peace.The War left the country’s civil and central
governance infrastructure decimated. With no
forthcoming funds from the U.S. Congress to re-
build the country in a new image, the blank slate
was quickly painted over by the Taliban covering
the country with a radical theocratic form of gov-
ernance and anti-Western sentiments.
With a current online population of a quarter of
a billion Muslims and anticipating another 750 mil-
lion brothers and sisters to join them over the
next five years, the Web is a tabula rasa that the
U.S. and the West can ill-afford to leave unattended.
17 www.digitaldaya.com
The Future of the Web in the
Muslim World
Looking forward, the question becomes, will cur-
rent leadership in Muslim countries, and their in-
cumbents in waiting, show the political courage
to provide clear access to the world wide web
and the promise it holds.
The wave of fundamentalism that has taken hold
in the Muslim world places a genuine stumbling
block on the road to the democratization of the
Middle East and the far-flung Muslim world that
extends into the Far East and northward into
Russia. And U.S. influence is of ambiguous value
under current conditions.
However, by taking the position of loosening
sanctions and authorizing the exportation of
web-based communications software, America
assumes a more benign posture in the view of
moderate Muslims.
Instead, the U.S. and Western democracies must
make clear that access to the Internet by Mus-
lims serves the internal best interests of all na-
tions. The West recognizes that the web is a tool
of unity and organization, with numerous stud-
ies to support this position. The Greens in Iran,
the movement toward racial harmony currently
underway in Malaysia and the growth of the op-
position movement, put forth by Saad ElBaradei
in Egypt, clearly indicate that web access has
the ability to unify schools of thought, especially
among a growing moderate middle class.
The future of web communications in the Middle
East, and within the entire Muslim world, relies
on government leaders to recognize that this ac-
cessibility is self-serving. Web access builds unity
of purpose and view, national pride, freedom of
speech and thought and engagement with new
ideas and new views.
Prudent leaders of Muslim countries who see the
value of engagement in building a strong base of
political legitimacy and government stability also
recognize that this solid base fosters economic
growth that leads to an expanding middle class,
made up of moderates. These leaders also rec-
ognize that it is in their own best interests to
 Facebook: A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World Wide Web
encourage the use of the web to facilitate open
communication with the West. This will grow na-
tional economies. This will encourage innovation,
application of new technology and a more expan-
sive view of the place of Islam in a world that is
moving at the speed of digital.
Government leaders must recognize the impor-
tance of a thriving, growing middle class – a large
group of merchants, educators, business leaders,
financiers and innovators.These people comprise
the center that holds against the extremes, who
will make use of the world wide web as a tool of
propaganda and recruitment.
The Western democracies must take a role in
changing attitudes of leaders in the Middle East.
However, the role these democracies take must
be one of proactive facilitation – providing the
means to access the web. The recent lifting of
sanctions against the export of web assets to Iran
serve as an example of non-intrusive engagement
in the Middle East.The U.S. and its allies must not
appear to be attempting to change the cultural
values of the region or of Islam.
The upcoming gathering of a billion
Muslims on the World Wide Web can
usher in a storm of fundamental reforms
that will propel the Middle East forward.
18 www.digitaldaya.com
Government leaders who continue to control
and/or censor access to the web must recognize
the disservice this leadership does to both the
growth of the country’s economy and in the de-
velopment of an increasing number of stakehold-
ers that make up a strong middle class. These are
the people with something to lose to extrem-
ists. These are also the people with much to gain
through engagement with countries and tribes
outside the Muslim sphere of influence.
Finally, changes must come swiftly. They must be
broad-based changes of perspective, values and
attitudes. The W3 has, indeed, created a global
economy. Limiting access to this vital communi-
cations resource will only cause these countries
to fall further and further behind the technology
curve.
The role of the world wide web in growing econ-
omies and providing stability among the governed
can not be denied. There’s ample evidence that
services like email, instant messaging, payment
gateways and social networking serve, not only
the interests of the people, these web assets
serve the interests of the government leaders
who hold power throughout the Muslim world.
Only through engagement with other countries,
other people, businesses and investment capital
will the economies of the Middle East grow be-
yond revenues derived from natural resources,
primarily oil and gas. The web offers the oppor-
tunity to foster entrepreneurship, technological
innovation and access to information available no
where else.
Indeed, the future of the Middle East and the
world-wide Muslim community can be bright.
With prudent Muslim leaders and active facilita-
tion of the West, the upcoming gathering of a bil-
lion Muslims on the World Wide Web can usher
in a storm of fundamental reforms that will pro-
pel the Middle East forward.
The genie is out of the bottle and wise leaders
recognize that there’s no way to get that genie
back into the bottle.
 Facebook: A Platform for 21st Century Politics
Winning Hearts and Minds on the World Wide Web

COUNTRY POLITICAL LEADER FAN BASE FACEBOOK URL

Nation Building
http://www.facebook.com/group.
Egypt Campaign for Mohamed ElBaradei 225,000 php?gid=123551066565&ref=nf

Egypt Campaign for Gamal Mubarak 18,000* http://www.facebook.com/Sharek.eg#!/Sharek.eg?v=wall

UAE HH Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum 159,000 http://www.facebook.com/HHSheikhMohammed

Lebanon Saad Hariri's March 14 Alliance 7,000 http://www.facebook.com/14march.org

Oman His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said 13,000 http://www.facebook.com/pages/His-Majesty-Sultan-

Qaboos-Bin-Said-Al-Said/10537412805?v=wall

National Unity Campaigns

http://www.facebook.com/group.
Malaysia 1Malaysia 50,000 php?gid=166361410463&v=info

Indonesia #IndonesiaUnite! Movement 480,000 http://www.facebook.com/indonesiaunite?v=wall#!/

indonesiaunite?v=wall

Theocratic Advocacy
http://www.facebook.com/pages/
Egypt Muslim Brotherhood 1,700* IkhwanWiki/245113582082

Plight of Ethnic Minorities

http://www.facebook.com/RebiyaKadeer#!/
China Uyghur civil rights in China 1,000 RebiyaKadeer?v=wall

India Kashmiri separatists 1,100* http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mirwaiz-Muhammad-

Omar-Farooq/26638257972?v=info

Muslim Women as Political

Jordan Quen Rania 175,000 http://www.facebook.com/QueenRania?v=wall

Iran Zahra Rahnavard 43,000 Zahra’s Facebook account

http://www.facebook.com/pages/HH-Sheikha-Mozah-
Qatar HH Sheikha Mozah 26,000 Bint-Nasser-Al-Missned/10208116846

Political Campaigning
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Imran-Khan/22596907359#!/pages/
Pakistan Imran Khan for Next Prime Minister of Pakistan 77,000 Imran-Khan/22596907359?v=wall
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saif-al-Islam-al-
Libya Campaign for Saif al-Islam al-Qadhafi 4,500 Gaddafi/10917256698?v=wall

Turkey Kemal Kılıçdaroglu CHP 190,000 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kemal-

Kilicdaroglu/76599755300
Iran Iran's Green Movement 127,000 http://www.facebook.com/mousavi

Iraq Ayad Allawi's "Iraq for every Iraqi" 6,300 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ayad-

Allawi/186377731761?

Youth Movements
Jordan 7iber Youth Movement 1,400 http://www.facebook.com/7iber

Source: Facebook.com, Digital Daya fans. Additional major categories of

Intelligence Databases
Note: Representative sample
from approximately 125 indentified
Facebook accounts. Applied criteria
require active accounts in above
political categories and over 1,000
online activism include Human Rights
Advocacy not outlined here.
*Fan base totals from multiple
accounts. Fan base is non-unique and
total may overstate size of fan base.

19 www.digitaldaya.com